I gotta say, this be full of the twists and turns and bloodletting that everyone has come to know about Game of Thrones. I’ve been walking through the world, head in the sand, twisting and swerving every spoiler that comes hurled my way from what appears to be everyone I know. And I didn’t do too badly at all, considering how much took me by surprise in the second part of A Storm of Swords.

I have a weird sort of relationship with the books from A Song of Ice and Fire. See, on the one hand, Martin neatly weaves together all the little threads of each character together, against the backdrop of a vast and iconic world. On the other hand, I have such a hard time deciding what I think of it, let alone being able to write it down in a coherent matter.

I will finish the Inheritance Cycle! It must be done! When I finish Brisingr I will get Inheritance right away and finally finally finish what I’ve been rereading and rereading for all this time. And as I write this, for some strange reason I feel like I actually read Eldest before Eragon without ever seeing the movie (which I’m pretty sure everyone knows by now is awful).

Easing back into reading with high fantasy may not be the easiest of tasks, but Abercrombie makes it easy with Before They Are Hanged. I have to admit that I have a shaky knowledge of the politics of the world (compounded by the fact that, surprisingly, there is no map). There are three “lands” – the Union, Gurkhul and the North. The Northmen are invading the Union under the self proclaimed king Bethod, while the Gurkish Empire are also warring with the Union. Add to this mix the rising power of dark magical forces and then you’ve got a plot.